Can Religion Make You Happy?

2780 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Origin and evolution of religion essay

“If Religion Makes People Happy, Why Are So Many Dropping Out?” -- Louis Tay and David G. Meyers. Throughout history, religion has helped form the basic fabric of society. From an early age, religion provided the answers to any unexplainable natural phenomena. The question of why the world worked in a particular way was easily answered with “because [name of deity] made it that way.” Religion was everywhere; everyone had their own ideas about how the world worked and what their role was in the universe. Each likeminded group held that their religious beliefs were the root cause of their happiness and general satisfaction with life. Centuries of religious dominance eventually gave birth to a widespread idea that strong religious beliefs are essential to living a happy and fulfilling life. Even today, in a society dominated by scientific advances, religion finds a niche in catering to people’s spiritual needs. Indeed, despite the societal changes that have occurred in modern times, religion has remained largely unchanged since its early days. The belief that religion factors heavily into one’s life satisfaction and happiness has also remained much the same, despite today’s complex and ever-changing society. The problem lies where religion is viewed as a major way to achieve happiness, and this perspective can lead to blind acceptance of religion solely on the basis of its supposed universal benefits. Basically, a new way of looking at religion is needed: seeing it not as the end-all happiness tool, but as a small factor in a complex web of happiness and well-being. Traditionally, organized religion in the Western world encouraged a melancholy outlook on life. Today, however, religion represents an image of happi... ... middle of paper ... ...tz, Hans-Georg; Lewis, Christopher Alan. “The Relationship Between Religion and Happiness Among German Students.” Pastoral Psychology. 51.4 (2003): 273-281. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 19 June 2015. Madigan, Timothy J. “Godless Happiness.” Free Inquiry Summer 1998: 32+. Student Resources in Context. Web. 19 June 2015. Moeller, Philip. “Religion Makes People Happier--But Why?” Chicago Tribune. N.p., 13 Apr. 2012. Web. 15 June 2015. Myers, David G. “Who’s Happy? Who’s Not?” Christianity Today. 23 Nov. 1992: 23+. Gale Power Search. Web. 19 June 2015. Schumaker, John F. “Can Religion Make You Happy?” Free Inquiry Summer 1998: 28+. Student Resources in Context. Web. 19 June 2015. Stearns, Peter N. “The History of Happiness. (Cover Story).” Harvard Business Review 90.1/2 (2012): 104-109. Business Source Complete. Web. 6 June 2015.

Show More
Related

  • Summary: What Electric Eels Tell Us About The Evolution Of Religion

    931 Words  | 2 Pages

    Religions usually involved huge investments for individuals and societies. The author wonders what benefits religion could bring and the “functions” of

    Read More

  • The Destructive Nature of Censorship Exposed in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

    648 Words  | 2 Pages

    If one is never unhappy, how would one know what happiness is anyway? Works Cited Bradbury, Ray. A. A. New York: Del Rey, 1987. Print. The. Simkin, John.

    Read More

  • The Pursuit of Happiness in Fahrenheit 451

    2866 Words  | 6 Pages

    Happiness plays an important and necessary role in the lives of people around the world. In America, happiness has been engrained in our national consciousness since Thomas Jefferson penned these famous words in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Jefferson). Since then, Americans have been engaged in that act: pursuing happiness. The problem however, as Ray Bradbury demonstrates in his novel Fahrenheit 451, is that those things which make us happy initially may eventually lead to our downfall. By examining Guy Montag, the protagonist in Fahrenheit 451, and the world he lives in we can gain valuable insights to direct us in our own pursuit of happiness. From Montag and other characters we will learn how physical, emotional, and spiritual happiness can drastically affect our lives. We must ask ourselves what our lives, words, and actions are worth. We should hope that our words are not meaningless, “as wind in dried grass” (Eliot).

    Read More

  • Wicca, the Apocalypse, and the Future of the Natural World.

    1440 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Haviland, Kilmurray, Fedorak and Lee (2013), religion is universal across cultures, and it serves several purposes for humankind, both psychological and social. It meets human needs by explaining the unknown, promoting group membership, denoting right from wrong, and absolving accountability for individuals by placing responsibility on God(s). In recent years, however, interest in mainstream religions has declined. In its place, Haviland et al. (2013) explain that there has been a resurgence of pagan religions, now referred to as neo-paganism.

    Read More

  • CS Lewis's Moral Argument and the Existence of a God

    1540 Words  | 4 Pages

    Epstein, Greg M. Good without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe. New York: William Morrow, 2009. Print.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Da Vinci Code

    2502 Words  | 6 Pages

    Religion has a great influence on people, providing faith and direction to each individual while controlling a co...

    Read More

  • The American Dream in The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse

    1185 Words  | 3 Pages

    Myers, David G. "The funds, friends, and faith of happy people." American psychologist 55.1 (2000): 56.

    Read More

  • Functionalist View on the Role and Functions of Religion in Society

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    They also add that religion ultimately helps individuals face up to life by providing them with a feeling of confidence and eagerness. Durkheim has been criticised for his definition of religion, and sociologists have asked, ‘is it possible to have society without religion?’, and ‘if so what maintains social solidarity in society?’ Through looking at sociological arguments such as Marxism and Feminism, I conclude that although these views do share a few of the Functionalist opinions of the role and functions of religion in contemporary society, overall they have different outlooks on religion and its effect on society.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Christianity And Islam

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    Religion is an organized collection of beliefs and cultural systems that entail the worship of a supernatural and metaphysical being. “Religion just like other belief systems, when held onto so much, can stop one from making significant progress in life”. Together with religion come traditions that provide the people with ways to tackle life’s complexities. A subscription to the school of thought of great scholars

    Read More

  • Buddhism and Western Psychology

    2137 Words  | 5 Pages

    Prager, D. (1997). Happiness is a serious problem: A human nature repair manual. NY: HarperCollins Publishers

    Read More

  • Psychedelics In American Culture

    1560 Words  | 4 Pages

    It is no wonder that only 53% of the American population is satisfied with organized religion, and the category Spiritual but not Religious has seen tremendous growth in American demographics in the last decade. It seems as though religion is failing to provide something meaningful that people look for in religion. Before I continue, it is important to delineate what exactly I mean by religion, and more importantly, what religion ought to provide. Religion, as defined by psychologist Joseph Gaither Pratt is any system of beliefs and worship that provide a combination of four things: a means of self transcendence through mystical experience, a system of beliefs that explains the nature of reality and our place in that reality, a system of moral beliefs for the individual and community, and a set of traditions and mythologies that provide a cultural context. It is the combination of these four things that lay the foundation for a sense of meaning in peoples lives. The problem is that traditional religions can no longer provide these four things adequately in a modern context. Because of this we see the increasing secularization of modern

    Read More

  • The relationship between morality and religiosity

    988 Words  | 2 Pages

    Galen, L. W. (2012). Does religious belief promote prosociality? a critical examination. Psychological Bulletin, 138(5), 876-906 inclusive. doi: 1939-1455 (Electronic)

    Read More

  • The American Dream Expressed Through The Pursuit of Happiness

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bowman, James. "The Pursuit of Happiness." The American Spectator. N.p., Sept. 2010. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Attim And Religion: Atheism Vs. Religion

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    In an article “Are Religious People Happier Than Non-religious People?”, it states “As studies show that religion gives people a sense of purpose and order and serves as a resource for coping with negative life experiences and existential fears.” It then states “Though people, especially in individualistic nations like the United States, talk about religion as an internal or personal belief system, religion is rarely done in solitude. Religion is typically a social activity and research indicates that social ties are one of the most important contributors to happiness.” (Routledge) Thus it’s not religion itself that creates happiness, but the social aspect of a shared bond. This differs from atheists who find happiness in making their own decisions. To continue, in the article, “Religious People Have Higher Self-Esteem But Only In Some Countries, Study Shows”, it states “Studies have shown that God-fearing folks tend to have higher self-esteem than nonbelievers”. (Searles) A claim such as this, challenges the assertion that atheists have higher self-esteem. The article continues and explains that “religious belief is linked to high self-esteem only in countries that emphasize religious belief.” (Searles) Religion poses a threat to the claim that atheism creates higher confidence, but it occurs only in those cases where religion is a fundamental instillment in one’s

    Read More

  • Self-Acceptance is the Key to Happiness

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gertner, Jon. The Futile Pursuit of Happiness. New York: The New York Times, 2003. n.d. Web. 27 Nov 2009.

    Read More

More about Can Religion Make You Happy?

Open Document